World’s Best Travel Places, Hotels, Cruise Lines and More

Global EAT - World’s Best Travel Places, Hotels, Cruise Lines and More
Changi Airport: More than an airport . It's an entertainment destination in its own right, featuring a 24/7 mall offering plenty of shopping and dining options, attractions including the world's first butterfly garden in an airport, cascading waterfalls and amusement park. (Nikao Media)

Looking for the world’s best airlines, cruise lines or top places to visit and stay?  The Travel + Leisure 2018 World Best’s Awards are a fittingly eclectic showcase of the finest in the world of travel.

Between November 6, 2017 and March 5, 2018, T + L readers were invited to participate in a survey to cast their votes on their favourite travel places and service providers in more than a dozen categories – based on various features.

The categories include airlines, airports, car-rental agencies, cities, cruise ships, destination spas, hotels, hotel brands, islands, tour operators, and safari outfitters.

We have summarized the top five or 10 winners in the different categories, according to T + L 2018 World’s Best Awards.

World’s Best Airlines

Criteria: Cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value.

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International

  1. Singapore Airlines
  2. Emirates Airline
  3. Qatar Airways
  4. Japan Airlines
  5. Air New Zealand
  6. Cathay Pacific Airways
  7. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
  8. Virgin Atlantic Airways
  9. Etihad Airways
  10. Eva Air
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U.S.

  1. Virgin America
  2. JetBlue Airways
  3. Alaska Airlines
  4. Southwest Airlines
  5. Hawaiian Airlines
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World’s Best Airports

Criteria: Access, check-in/security, restaurants/bars, shopping and design.

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International

  1. Singapore Changi Airport
  2. Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar
  3. Dubai International
  4. Hong Kong International Airport
  5. Haneda (Tokyo International) Airport
  6. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
  7. Zurich Airport
  8. Narita International Airport, Tokyo
  9. Oslo Airport
  10. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
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U.S. – Domestic

  1. Portland International Airport, Oregon
  2. Indianapolis International Airport
  3. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
  4. Tampa International Airport
  5. Pittsburgh International Airport
  6. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
  7. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
  8. John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California
  9. Palm Beach International Airport
  10. Dallas Love Field
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World’s Best Cities

Criteria: Sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value.

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International

  1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
  2. Oaxaca, Mexico
  3. Udaipur, India
  4. Ubud, Indonesia
  5. Kyoto, Japan
  6. Florence, Italy
  7. Luang Prabang, Laos
  8. Hoi An, Vietnam
  9. Chiang Mai, Thailand
  10. Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Related: Why Thailand’s Thanin Market Is for Gourmet Window Shoppers and Serious Foodies

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U.S.

  1. Charleston, South Carolina
  2. New Orleans, Louisiana
  3. Savannah, Georgia
  4. Santa Fe, New Mexico
  5. New York City, New York
  6. Chicago, Illinois
  7. San Antonio, Texas
  8. Asheville, North Carolina
  9. Nashville, Tennessee
  10. Honolulu, Hawaii

Canada

  1. Quebec City
  2. Vancouver
  3. Victoria, BC
  4. Montreal
  5. Toronto

Mexico

  1. San Miguel de Allende
  2. Oaxaca
  3. Mexico City
  4. Mérida
  5. Guadalajara

Central and South America

  1. Cuzco, Peru
  2. Rio de Janeiro
  3. Antigua, Guatemala
  4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
  5. Bogotá, Colombia
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Asia

  1. Udaipur, India
  2. Ubud, Indonesia
  3. Kyoto, Japan
  4. Luang Prabang, Laos
  5. Hoi An, Vietnam
  6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
  7. Tokyo, Japan
  8. Bangkok, Thailand
  9. Siem Reap, Cambodia
  10. Thimphu, Bhutan
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Africa and the Middle East

  1. Cape Town
  2. Beirut, Lebanon
  3. Jerusalem
  4. Tel Aviv
  5. Marrakesh, Morocco
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Europe

  1. Florence, Italy
  2. Rome, Italy
  3. Istanbul, Turkey
  4. Porto, Portugal
  5. Seville, Spain
  6. Barcelona, Spain
  7. Kraków, Poland
  8. Lisbon, Portugal
  9. Siena, Italy
  10. San Sebastián, Spain
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Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

  1. Sydney
  2. Melbourne
  3. Queenstown, New Zealand
  4. Auckland, New Zealand
  5. Wellington, New Zealand
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World’s Best Islands

Citeria: Natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness and value.

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Continental U.S.

  1. Hilton Head, South Carolina
  2. Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island), Georgia
  3. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
  4. Mount Desert Island, Maine
  5. San Juan Islands, Washington
  6. Amelia Island, Florida
  7. Florida Keys
  8. Nantucket, Massachusetts
  9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
  10. Longboat Key, Florida

Canada

  1. Cape Breton Island
  2. Vancouver Island
  3. Prince Edward Island

Mexico and Central and South America

  1. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
  2. Easter Island, Chile
  3. Isla Mujeres, Mexico
  4. Caye Caulker, Belize
  5. Ambergris Caye, Belize

Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas

  1. Anguilla
  2. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
  3. Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
  4. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
  5. St. Lucia
  6. Turks & Caicos
  7. Vieques, Puerto Rico
  8. Bermuda
  9. Cuba
  10. Aruba
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Asia

  1. Java, Indonesia
  2. Bali, Indonesia
  3. Lombok, Indonesia
  4. Lombok, Indonesia
  5. Palawan, Philippines
  6. Palawan, Philippines
  7. Phuket, Thailand
  8. Boracay, Philippines
  9. Koh Samui, Thailand
  10. Koh Lanta, Thailand
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Africa and the Middle East

  1. Mauritius
  2. Seychelles
  3. Seychelles
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Europe

  1. Páros, Greece
  2. Orkney Islands, Scotland
  3. Azores, Portugal
  4. Santorini, Greece
  5. Crete, Greece
  6. Milos, Greece
  7. Skye and the Hebrides, Scotland
  8. Sicily, Italy
  9. Mykonos, Greece
  10. Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Greece
[/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Oceania” tab_id=”1531735463816-bc06ec08-a65f”]

Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

  1. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
  2. Tasmania, Australia
  3. Cook Islands
  4. Moorea, French Polynesia
  5. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
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World’s Best Cruise Ships

Criteria: Cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities and value.

Related: How to Enjoy Alaska, the Fun and Easy Way

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Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

  1. Cunard
  2. Disney Cruise Line
  3. Princess Cruises
  4. Holland America Line
  5. Celebrity Cruises
  6. Royal Caribbean International
  7. Norwegian Cruise Line
  8. Carnival Cruise Line
  9. MSC Cruises
  10. Costa Cruises
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Large-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

  1. Viking
  2. Crystal Cruises
  3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  4. Seabourn
  5. Cunard
  6. Oceania Cruises
  7. Azamara Club Cruises
  8. Princess Cruises
  9. Holland America Line
  10. Celebrity Cruises
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Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

  1. Windstar Cruises
  2. Paul Gauguin Cruises
  3. Ponant
  4. Seabourn
  5. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
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Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines

  1. Quasar Expeditions
  2. Grand Circle Cruise Line
  3. Australis
  4. Ponant
  5. Lindblad Expeditions
  6. Windstar Cruises
  7. Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises
  8. UniCruise Adventures
  9. Silversea
  10. Celebrity Cruises
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River Cruise Lines

  1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
  2. Viking
  3. Tauck
  4. Aqua Expeditions
  5. Grand Circle Cruise Line
  6. Crystal River Cruises
  7. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
  8. Vantage Deluxe World Travel
  9. Avalon Waterways
  10. AmaWaterways

Related: The Reality of River Cruising: Is it for You?

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World’s Best Hotels

Criteria: Rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value.

T & L Top 100 Hotels in the World

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International Hotels

1.   Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Indonesia
2.   Ballyfin, County Laois, Ireland
3.   Frangipani Beach Resort, Anguilla
4.   Inkaterra La Casona, Cuzco, Peru (tie)
4.   Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Torlundy, Scotland (tie)
6.   The Mulia, Bali, Indonesia
7.   Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Torres del Paine, Chile
8.   Temple House, Chengdu, China
9.   Nihi Sumba Island, Indonesia
10.  Nayara Springs, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

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International Hotel Resorts

  1.  Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
  2.  Frangipani Beach Resort, Anguilla
  3. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
  4. Curtain Bluff Resort, Antigua
  5. Tensing Pen, Negril, Jamaica
  6. Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
  7. Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia
  8. Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica
  9. Cap Maison, St. Lucia
  10. Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
  11. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
[/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Hotel Brands” tab_id=”1531773614300-728747fe-7516″]

World’s Top Hotel Brands

  1. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
  2. Red Carnation Hotel Collection
  3. Oetker Collection
  4. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
  5. One&Only Resorts
  6. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
  7. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts
  8. The Peninsula Hotels
  9. Alila Hotels & Resorts
  10. Auberge Resorts Collection
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Car-Rental Agencies

Criteria: Vehicle selection, vehicle availability, car-rental location, service and value.

  1. National Car Rental
  2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  3. Hertz
  4. Alamo Rent A Car
  5. Sixt Rent A Car

Tour Operators

Criteria: Tour operators and safari outfitters: Staff/guides, itineraries/destinations, activities, accommodations, food and value.

  1. Artisans of Leisure
  2. ATJ (formerly Asia Transpacific Journeys)
  3. Classic Journeys
  4. Adventure Unbound
  5. DuVine Cycling & Adventure Co.
  6. Trek Travel
  7. TCS World Travel
  8. Journeys Within, a Wild Frontiers Company
  9. VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations
  10. Tauck